Bangalore Blast, That Killed 1 And Injured 3, Suspected To Have Terrorism Angle

Indian police stand guard outside a government building in the southern Indian city of Bangalore October 4, 2006. One person was killed and three others were injured in a low-intensity blast in Bangalore late on Sunday. Photo: Reuters/Jagadeesh Nv

A woman was killed and three others were injured in a low-intensity blast in the Indian city of Bangalore on Sunday night. The explosion is believed to have been triggered using a timer attached to a crude Improvised Explosive Device (IED) placed near a restaurant in an upscale neighborhood of the city, according to local media reports.

Following the blast, Bangalore Police Commissioner M N Reddi said that security had been beefed up across the city. “It is too early to say who carried out the attack … there has been threat perception in general, in view of the fact that there are festivities and the new year’s eve is coming” Reddi said, adding that a "terror angle" had not been ruled out, according to local media reports. The explosion occurred in a part of the city that is known for its nightlife, and is bustling with locals and tourists on most evenings.

The police have also established a special team to investigate the attack. Officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) -- India’s federal anti-terror agency -- are also involved in the investigation, according to media reports.

“An NIA team, led by a deputy superintendent of police, which is permanently stationed in Bengaluru, has been sent to the blast site. A highly experienced explosive export is also accompanying the team to examine the scene of crime,” an unnamed NIA official told The Hindu, an Indian daily.

Karnataka Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah convened a high-level security meeting on Monday in the wake of the blast. He also announced a compensation of five hundred thousand rupees ($7, 850) to the family of Bhawani Bala, 37, the woman who died in the attack, according to local media reports.

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was reportedly labeled an “act of terrorism” by the state’s home minister.

The incident comes just days after online sympathizers of the Islamic State group threatened to carry out revenge attacks following the arrest of Mehdi Masroor Biswas, a Bangalore-based executive who was managing one of the most popular pro-ISIS Twitter accounts.